Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-08
POPULARITY IN POLITICS.
Katoff's Influence in Russian Affairs Being
Practically Illustrated.
POWERFUL AND POTENTIAL PEN
The Man Who Makes tho Chanccllor
shakc-Promincnti in Literature
ltciation to Nihiiism Sacred
in the "Rcds' Eye"

Moscow, Feb. 12.- Correspondence OF
the BEE. l-Outsidcrs in general seem to
have Just discovered Ka:kof, IL VIC may
Judge by the discussions going on
throughout Europe over his recent ar.
ticles on the European situation. AL.
though known only to n limited number
of people in other countries, IN Russia.
his name has long been household
word. The extent OF his influence may
be measured from the fact that, of late,
tie fail of more than one minister may
be laid to his account. They did not
choose to adopt certain measures strong
ly advocated by the Moscow Gazette, and
their subsequent loss of Office was the ro.
natural result, but ono which at first
caused considerable surprise among the
more superficial of the European polit.
clans, who-liable to run into extremes
now attribute it to personal influences
and even to remarkable ascendency
over the czar himself
THE FRENCH PRESS
have gone so far as to describe Katkoff rs
the chosen confidante of the emperor 3
innermost thoughts and his most trusted
councillor, the only man TO whom he
looks for advice! Now, although the
czar has raised Katkof to a position
never before held by plebeian, by ad-
mitting him to the imperial council, and
is more ready to take his opinion than
that of anyone else (save, perhaps, M.
| PaledOnoszef, his ex.professor of law,
| in all matters connected with the daily
routine of government. Alexander III.
is not man to allow any one such extra.
ordinary privileges. 1t is even reported
here that Katkof has somewhat strained
his position with the emperor by continu.
ing to publish nti-German articles,
after the official communication to the
press, made q short time ago, and that
he was not admitted when he last asked
tor an audience, though the czar an.
swered his subsequent letter with the as
surance that he would always set great
value on his opinions. Be this as it may,
katkof's influence is not to be disputed.
NO SOCIALIST IN RUSSIA
or elsewhere, ever gained for himself
similar power, or knew how to WELD
it SO well, although he may not be
as he has been describcd-the real au.
tocrat of the empire. On the other hand,
there is hO dOuOt that he is the most dan
gerous enemy of Prince Bismarck and
his policy, for the whole Russian nation
hangs upon his words. and he represents
| puUliC OplulOu Abl liOLC oulcly LIllu tnc
majority of an elective parliament.
Katkotf's first famous articles levelled
against tho chancellor, which was pub
lished last August, was trumpet call
that found Its echo in the very heart of
the country. Since then he has worked
hard to undermine the favor that Berlin
has long enjoyed at st, Petersburg, and
has so far succeeded, that very little
more would lead to an open rupture.
One of NJ. Katkoff's greatest titles to
popularity, and one of the reasons of his
success as a leader of public opinion, is
that he belongs to no party Previous to
the insurrection in Poland, he was n lib.
eral, and his liberalism, according 10
some accounts, was strongly
TAINTED WITH SOCIALISM
After having combatted absolute gov
ernment for years in the Burki Wietnik,
and made himself the apostle of repre-.
sentative authority, this change of tao.
tics was SO startling as to call forth the
blame of some of his best friends. But
the nihilist movement was in full pro-
gress, and Katkoff seeing the danger,
concluded that the only power capable
of erecting barrier against the inroads
of the revolutiOnists, and OF restoring the
shaken confidence of the nation, was
ward, the Moscow Gazette, of which
Katoff had become proprietor in 1888,
was looked upon almost as the official
organ of the popular party. and his in
influence increased SO much that three
years later he became the principal in
strument in the overthrow of NJ. Valon-
Jeff, who had dared to suspend the publ.
cation of the Gazette.
Katkoff may be described as the intel
lectual head of the Russian nation.
HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN
hang upon his words. Above all he is q
Russian, a Russian patriot, ardently de-
sirous of maintaining the integrity of the
empire, which the Polish insurrectiOn in
the first place, and the cowardly attempts
Of the nlhillsts in the second, had put in
jeopardy. 1t Is because he detests the
chancellor's influence in the desire of
Austria to push its way to the Balkans,
that he was the first to attack Prince Bis
marck. to denOunce him as the great
enemy of his country, and to set up the
cry OF alarm in spite OF every opposition
and caution. And his dread Of Prince
Bismarck naturally draws HIM towards
an alliance with France. II this can be
accomplished he considers that the peace
of Europe Will be assured for somo time
to come, In literature Katkof is as
much n savophile rs in politics. No one
has contributed more than he to the
propagation of Russian literature; and
the growing taste for it even among tho
| nlHuCT CIoSSeS WHeTc IOTcISu duIHOIo uoou
to be preferred, is due to him. The
words of TOurgueneff, Dostoiewsky, and
Tolstoi were all published in the Russian
Messenger.
MAN OF WONDERFUL POWERS
in all hc touches, n scholar as well as a
publicist and politician, he has carried
on for years a campaign in favor OF
classical education. In this matter he
was not content with mere word war
fare, but has founded college of his
own, in which several hundreds Of Rus
sian youths belonging to the highest
classes, receive Il frst.rate education.
He himself personally superintends the
studies at the Nicholas college, and a
considerable portion of the many hours
which he daily devOtes to hard work are
given to the school. Although man OF
sixty seven, he is able to exist with two
or three hours sleep, so marvclously is
his physical constitution fitted to the
wonderful and varied career which he
has chosen to follow. 1t Is curious fact
that although Katkoff was the man who
has shown himself the most determined
enemy of nihilism, and has done more
than anyone else to paralize the work
Ings OF this occult society-and has there
fore. according to their tenets. deserved